Ah, the 1950s, a time that likely no one who reads this lived in. From media, it seems like everything was covered in a smooth gloss of chrome and fear. This is the setting – turned slightly on its side – for “Planet 51.”
Almost immediately we get the idea. Aliens and humans aren’t that different! In an attempt to so accurately parody the 1950s, we miss out on the chance for a truly imaginative world.
The story is very cookie-cutter: funny animal thing, weird best friend, cute love interest, awkward main hero, an older mentor that passes down advice, and an antagonist that hates things. He just hates.
The movie is severely lacking in good jokes, with the only sparkling moments being the two military guards who convince themselves they’re alien zombies. A joke about War of the Worlds got a laugh out of me, so there’s one for the sci-fi nerd dads.
Props to Illion Animation Studios, who with their first film have met near the graphical quality of Pixar and surpassed Dreamworks. Everything has a wonderful glow to it, and there are a few impressive animated sequences.
However, “51”is middle of the road, without taking any chances. There was not one line worth quoting, and for kids, this is a huge deal. There are worse films to take your kid to see, but this would be a pretty mind numbing one to watch repeatedly like so many children often want to do.
